InSAR

WARNING: This is a SUPER nerdy post. Seriously. You have been warned.

Alright, here goes.

Today I learned about different ground deformation monitoring methods. Basically, they tell you if the ground is inflating or deflating (with up to mm- or cm-scale accuracy). My favorite method - and as it turns out, one of the best methods we have right now as a warning system for eruptions - is InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar).

The image above is of Kilauea caldera. Up is North, and the Hale'mau'mau crater is the smaller circle near the center of the photo. The rainbow colors indicate the direction of ground motion. Depending on the scale (which they DIDN'T include in this picture, unfortunately), if the outside colors of the fringe move from red to blue to green towards the center, then the phase of the wave from the satellite to the receiver decreases, which means the ground has uplifted (the receiver is closer to the satellite). This is the case for the Halema`uma`u crater - you can count the 'rings' or fringes from the outside to quantify the extent of uplift in multiples of 2.8 cm. The static-looking part of the aerial photo is where the vegetation is too dense for the InSAR wave to penetrate.

Oh, and if the ground around a volcano is uplifting, then the magma reservoir is likely coming closer to the surface (and you'd better start running). If the ground is subsiding, then an eruption is probably occurring and the magma is draining from the reservoir.

Anyway, I think this technology is pretty cool, and I like the colors.

Random thought:
-I'd like to send a special shout-out to the Twins, who swept the White Sox this week! I wore my old, faded Santana Twins shirt today to show support.